House Speaker Mike Johnson has voiced his disapproval of Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny being selected as the 2026 Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show performer, suggesting a country singer would be a better fit.
The 31-year-old reggaetonero recently addressed the criticisms surrounding his forthcoming performance during his “Saturday Night Live” monologue on Oct. 4. His second stint on SNL came just a week after it was announced he would be taking on one of the biggest stages in music.
“You might not know this, but I’m doing the Super Bowl halftime show and I’m very happy,” he said in English, then joked, “I think everyone is happy about it, even Fox News.”
Doja Cat, Bad Bunny, and Chloe Fineman during promos for “Saturday Night Live.”
“More than a personal achievement, it’s an achievement for all of us [Latinos] — demonstrating that our footprint and our contributions in this country can never be removed or erased,” he said in Spanish, before inviting audiences to learn the language if they didn’t understand.
Here’s what else to know and who Johnson suggested as a better candidate.
Mike Johnson, Donald Trump weigh in on Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show performance
Johnson recently weighed in on the debate surrounding Bad Bunny’s selection for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, saying he wasn’t familiar with the artist but still believed it was a “terrible decision.”
“There are so many eyes on the Super Bowl — a lot of young, impressionable children,” Johnson said in a clip posted online Oct. 7, adding that ’80s country star Lee Greenwood would have been America’s “clear and obvious preference,” citing Greenwood’s appeal to “a broader audience.”
Greenwood is a country music singer and songwriter, best known for his patriotic anthem “God Bless the U.S.A.”
Johnson’s sentiments echo those of President Donald Trump, who on Oct. 6 told Newsmax’s Greg Kelly that he had “never heard” of Bad Bunny.
During the interview with Trump, Kelly alleged that Bad Bunny “hates ICE” and “accuses everything he doesn’t like of racism,” USA TODAY reported. The conservative news host also pushed the president on whether viewers should boycott the NFL over their choice of Super Bowl halftime entertainer.
Trump responded, “I never heard of him. I don’t know who he is, I don’t know why they’re doing it, it’s like crazy. … Then they blame it on some promoter that they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”
In 2017, Bad Bunny criticized Trump’s response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico. The “Tití Me Preguntó” singer later endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, sharing her message condemning Trump’s handling of the crisis.
His support came shortly after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who goes by the stage name Kill Tony, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” a remark that sparked widespread backlash.
Critic says Super Bowl should choose an “American” performer. Puerto Ricans are Americans
Critics disparaging the choice include conservative influencer Robby Starbuck, who called for an “American” to perform at the Super Bowl. Bad Bunny is a citizen of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. Puerto Ricans are Americans.
On Oct. 1, Trump’s former 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said that ICE may be present at Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance. In September, Bad Bunny revealed he was omitting the U.S. from his upcoming world tour due to concerns about ICE raids at his concerts.
“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else,” said Lewandowski. “We will find you, we will apprehend you, we will put you in a detention facility and we will deport you. So know that is a very real situation under this administration.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem then claimed the administration would be sending immigration officials to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and called the NFL “so weak” for their choice of performer.
Contributing: USA TODAY
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Bad Bunny pick for Super Bowl halftime show angers conservatives
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